St Ishmael’s

St Ishmael’s village gives its name to a largely agricultural community on the northern shore of Milford Haven

St Ishmaels Church by Paula Rayner

The ancient parish church stands a little distance from the village at the head of Monk Haven – said to be a landing place for pilgrims travelling to the shrine of St David. The sandstone cliffs facing the entrance to the Haven have long been regarded as strategically important in the defence of the harbour, and remains of WWII anti-aircraft and searchlight batteries can still be found along the coast path and further inland.

Home Guard: The community had an active Home Guard unit which used the village hall as its Drill Hall. Throughout the war the Home Guard did dusk to dawn night patrols, notably around Clom Walls crossroads north of the village. Extra patrols were carried out in the wake of Dunkirk as the countryside was on the alert for possible German paratroopers.

According to one local source: “Mr Husband was in charge, with Arthur Bowen becoming second-in-command later on after Mr Davies (Hasguard) accidentally shot his wife and then had to nurse her.”

St Ishmael’s School (SM 836073): The school was provided with two air raid shelters, one of which was later used by canteen staff to store coal and potatoes.